Of the many DOT paperwork requirements, your trucking companies drug and alcohol policy is one of the most important documents you will use. This company policy is necessary to clearly outline what you expect of your truck drivers. It also helps your trucking company control risks and encourage safety on the road. Safe truck drivers are good for your business, and encouraging a drug-free fleet provides long-term benefits for the company safety rankings and decreases the risk of facing FMSCA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) penalties.
DOT Drug and Alcohol Policy Development
As part of Office Tenders’ comprehensive DOT random drug and alcohol testing services, we can develop a policy for your trucking company that will meet FMCSA requirements. Failure to implement a clear policy regarding drug and alcohol use and testing procedures could leave you facing serious fines. And not presenting truck drivers with a clear policy leaves your expectations open to interpretation, and can be confusing to the drivers.
But what exactly should your fleet’s drug and alcohol policy include? Specific guidelines for policy development are laid out in FMCSR 382.601, “Employer Obligation to Promulgate a Policy on the Misuse of Alcohol and Use of Controlled Substances”. This regulation covers the employer’s responsibility for meeting policy requirements. To summarize, each trucking company DOT drug and alcohol policy should include:
- Identification of the individual an employee can turn to with any questions or concerns.
- Outline of who specifically the policy applies to.
- When (days and hours) a driver is expected to be compliant with the policy.
- Exactly what is prohibited in terms of alcohol and controlled substances.
- Explanation of submitting to testing requirements.
- Procedures of testing, including random testing and testing related to specific circumstances such as following an accident or suspicion of intoxication.
- Penalties and consequences of failing test or refusing to take random drug and alcohol test.
How to Implement a DOT Drug & Alcohol Policy
Simply writing up a policy is not enough to fulfill FMCSA regulations. Before you test a new truck driver or enter one into a random selection pool, you must ensure that the driver has received a copy of the trucking company’s DOT drug and alcohol policy. If you choose to have a separate company policy that goes beyond the DOT required one, this must also be presented to drivers.
It’s also important to provide each truck driver and supervisor with training materials regarding drug and alcohol abuse and testing. Office Tenders can supply you with these necessary training materials to simplify the implementation of your testing policy. Additionally, each truck driver must sign a statement verifying that they have received both the training and the policy. You may choose to give a copy of this statement of receipt to the driver, but the trucking company is responsible for keeping the original signed form as part of the Driver Qualification File.
It is a good idea to keep any drug and alcohol policies available for employees at all times, even after presenting each with an individual copy. Make sure that all company supervisors and involved staff members are on the same page regarding expectations and enforcement, and that all follow each regulation regarding the DOT drug and alcohol policy and random testing requirements. Consistency ensures that all drivers and employees are given a clear message regarding substance use, and allows them to best meet your company expectations. Safe drivers mean safe highways for all!
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